Binding machine



Sept. 30, 1941. c, E, EMMER :Lai-57,714l

BINDING MACHINE l Filed April s', 1940 2 sheets-sheet 1 JL] El 5.4 6 xzrI l H 5 /6 /7 26 '2' al I9 22 .if 26 5 '56 /9 ./5

1 @L l 2l ,3 I u ,la 24 g @hmm Sept. 30,1194'1. c. EQ EMMER 1 BINDINGMACHINE Filed April s, 1940"' 2 sheets-sheet 2 l n z/E 17 L Caf/@Jfa/wan/ Emmer Patented Sept. 30, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEBBNDING MACHINE Application April 3, 1940, Serial No.y 327:,571

(Cl. ll-l) 1li Claims.

This invention relates to the art of binding books with mechanicalbindings, and particularly with the type of bindings known in the tradeas plastic bindings. Two principal forms of plastic bindings are in usein this country at the present time, one of them being shown in the U.S. patent to Douvry No. 1,970,285 dated Aug. 14, 1934, and the otherbeing shown in my copending application for patent entitled: Plasticbinding, Serial No. 227,242, filed August 29, 1938. Both of thesebindings are formed of a resilient plastic, such as Celluloid, celluloseacetate, or a suitable synthetic resin, and comprise a longitudinallyextending portion, termed a backbone, and a plurality of rings evenlyspaced along the backbone and formed of ngers extending from one edgeofthe backbone and curledaround into rings.

In the Douvry type of plastic binding, the backbone is relatively wideand lies on the surface of the imaginary cylinder defined by the rings.In the other form of plastic binding mentioned above, the backbone isnarrow and lies at an angle to the adjacent portion of the rings. In theform of plastic binding with the wide backbone, the ends of the fingersoverlap the backbone and, in the other form` of plastic bindingmentioned above, the ends of the fingers overlap the base portions ofthe fingers next to the backbone, but, in both forms of binding, thengers can be straightened out in order to open the rings to allow thesheets to be bound to be placed upon the binding.

Another form of plastic binding, which is now coming into use in thiscountry, is similar to the form shown in my copending patent applicationidentified above but differs therefrom in that the backbone lies outsideof the rings instead of inside of them.

The sheets to be bound with the plastic binding are each provided with arow of holes along one edge, the spacing of the holes being the same asthe spacing of the rings of the binding. To bind the sheets with thebinding, the rings of the binding are opened up, the pages are insertedupon the fingers forming the opened-up rings, and the iingers areallowed to spring back into their original ring form.

One of the principal objects of the present invention is to provide amachine for conveniently `and quickly carrying out the above describedoperation.

Another object of this invention is to provideV rings of a binding inresponse to a single movemention the part of the operator.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a machine forcarrying out the above described operations and which is readilyadjustable to different sizes of bindings so that it will operateequally well upon large and small bindings.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a means forpositively holding the rings of the binding against lateral movementafter they are opened so that the ends of the ngers forming the ringswill remain properly spaced as' the leaves to be bound are beingthreaded upon them.

One of the principal features of the present invention is the provisionof a series of hooks to engage the rings of the binding for opening themand a series of iingersv adapted to cooperate with the hooks topositively hold each ring against sliding off of the hook which engagesit.

Another feature of the present invention is the provision of means forholding the binding and a series of hooks for engaging the rings of thebinding, the engagement of the rings on, the hooks being caused by amovement of the binding supporting means rather than by a movement ofthe hooks.r

Other objects and features of. the invention will appear from thefollowing description and,

accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a front elevational. view of one of the preferredembodiments of the invention, showing a machine embodying the inventionin its position of rest;

Figure 2` is a view similar to Figure l, on an enlarged scale, andshowing the machine with the parts thereof in one of the positions whichthey assume during the operation ofthe machine;

Figure 3 is a view similar t0. Figure 2 but with the parts in a stilldifferent position;

Figure 4 is a cross section on the line IV-IV of Figure 2, looking inthe direction of the arrows;

Figure 5 is a cross section on the line V-V of Figure, 3, looking in thedirection of the arrows; and,

`Figure 6 is a cross section on the line VI-V'I of Figure 1, looking inthe direction of the arrows.

The particular form of the invention shown in the drawingsis mountedupon the top It] of an ordinary table and comprisesa frame l l having abase I2 xed to the tab-le top I l). The frame ll has a pair of uprightsI3, one at each end, formed with vertical extending channels orguideways I4 facing` towards each. other. The guideways I4 are shorterthan the uprights I3, the upper portions of the uprights I3 projectingabove the guideways I4 and serving to carry an upper cross member I5.The upper cross member I5 extends across in front of the upper ends ofthe uprights I3 and is secured to them by means of shoulder bol-ts I6extending through oblique slots I1 in the vcross member I 5. While theshoulder bolts I5 'are screwed tightly into the uprights I3, they do notfit tightly against the face of the cross member I5 or within the slotsI1. This arrangement permits the upper cross member I 5 to move"relative to the uprights I3 in an oblique direction while holding it atall times parallel to its original position and preventing anyundesirable twisting or turning.

The cross member I5 carries a means I9 for supporting a plastic binding20, this means in the particular machine illustrated being a platesecured to the cross member by screws 2| and having a row of hooks 22along its lower edge. The hooks 22 are arranged ina row and openupwardly, and their spacing is the same as the spacing of the rings 23of the binding. Thus they are adapted to rlt between the successiverings 23 of the binding and to engage the longitudinally extendingbackbone 24 thereof, as shown in Figure 2. Y Y

When the machine is in its initial position, as shown in Figure l, theupper cross member I5 and the binding supporting means I9 securedthereto are supported in their uppermost positions by a pair of screws26 extending down through the upper cross member I5 and resting l uponthe upper surface of a lower cross member 21 located directly below theupper cross member and having its ends guided in the Vertical channelsor guideways I4 on the uprights I3. The lower cross member 21 issupported by a pair of compression springs 28 acting between the top ofthe frame base I2 and the' underside of the cross member 21. Suitableguide rods 29 secured to the cross member 21 Vand extending slidablythrough holes in the frame base I2 are provided to prevent buckling ofthe springs 28. When the machine is at rest, the springs 28 hold thelower cross member 21 up against the supporting screws 26 in the uppercross member I5 and thereby holdthe upper cross member I5 in itsuppermost position, as shown in Figure 1.

The lower cross member 21 has a pairof shoulder screws 30 on its frontface, these screws serving to hold a hook plate 3| and a retainer 32 inposition. The hook plate 3I lies under the shoulders on the shoulderscrews 30 and is there- T by aixed to the cross bar 21, while theretainer 32 is provided with vertical slots 33 through which theshoulder portions of the screws 30 extend and which permit the retainer32 to move vertically a predetermined distance with respect to the lowercross member 21., The hook plate 3| is formed with a series of hooks 34along its upper edge and projecting above the top of the cross member21. The hooks 34 on the hook plate are arranged with exactly the samespacing as the hooks 22 on the binding supporting means I9 and liedirectly beneath them when the machine is at, rest; as shown inFigure 1. Thus, when a plastic binding is placed in the machine with itsrings passing between the hooks 22 on the binding support I9, the ringswill also pass between the hooks 34 on the hook plate. 1

The retainer 32 is formed with a series of lingers or projections 35along its upper edge, 75

geref/14 the lingers 35 having the same spacing as the hooks 22 and thehooks 34 and lying directly beneath the spaces between the hooks whenthe machine is at rest, as shown in Figure l. The range of movementwhich is provided for the retainer 32 by the slots 33 is such that, whenthe retainer 32 is in its upper position with respect to the lower crossmember 21, as shown in Figure 3, the' upper ends of the fingers orprojections 35 of the retainer will lie in line with the ends of thehooks 34. In order that these parts may be exactly in line under theseconditions, the hooks 34 are bent slightly forward, as shown in Figure4.

The bottom of the retainer 32 is formed into a horizontal ange 36 whichextends back under the lower cross member 21, which is bored out, asshown in Figure 4, to receive one or more compression springs 39arranged to press down upon the flange 36 and resiliently hold theretainer 32 in its lower position with respect to the cross member 21. f

The machine is operated by means of a rod 31 which is fixed to the lowercross member 21 which extends down through suitable apertures in theange 36 of the retainer, the base I2 of the frame, and the table top Ii)and is connected to a pedal (not shown) of any desired construction. Themovement of the lower cross member 21 when pulled down by the operatingrod 31. is limited by a pair of stop screws 3B threaded up through thebase i2 of the machine and located so as to engage the iiange 36 on theretainer. Thus, when the operating rod 31 is pulled down, the retainerflange 36 comes into contact with the stop screws 38, as shown inFigures 2 and 4, before the downward movement of the lower cross memberis arrested, and, during the inal portion of the downward movement ofthe lower cross member 21, the retainer 32 remains still while the hooks34 on the hook plate move down between the lingers 35 on the retainer,as shown in Figures 3 and 5.

The operation of the machine is as follows. When both of the crossmembers l5 and 21-are in their upper positions, as shown in Figure l,the plastic binding to be opened is placed in the machine with itsbackbone 24 resting in the hooks 22 on the upper cross member and withits rings 23 hanging down between the hooks 34 carried on the hook plate3i on the lower cross member. The operating rod 31 is then pulled downby the pedal, treadle, or other operating means (not shown), therebymoving the lower cross member 21 in a downward direction. Since thelower cross member 21 supports the upper cross mem- ,ber I5 by means ofthe screws 26, the upper cross member I5 moves down with the lower crossmember 21 until it reaches the limit of the movement allowed it by theoblique slots I1., Because the slots I1 are oblique, the upper crossmember I5 movesto one side as well as down, reaching the position shownin Figure 2, in which the rings 23 of the binding 2Q have been movedlaterally so that they now encircle the ends of the hooks 34 on thelowerrcross member. Y

As the`lower cross member 21 continues to be moved down, the hooks 34carried by this cross member move down away from the hooks 22 on theupper cross member and engage Ythe rings 23 of the binding on theinside. As they continue to move down, the hooks 34 flex the fingersforming the rings 23 and open the rings out to the position shown VinFigure 5. At the same time, the flange 35 on the bottom'of the retainerestaria 32 has come into contact with the stop screws 38, thus causingthe retainer 32' to move upwardly with respect to the hooks 34 on thelower cross member so that the fingers 35 on the retainer project upalongside of the ends oi the hooks, as

shown in Figure 3, and hold the spread-open rings 23 in their correctpositions on the hooks.

With the rings 23 of the binding opened as described above and shown inFigure 5, it is a simple matter to thread the pages to be bound onto therings. If the number of pages is small, all of the pages to be boundtogether can be put into place at once or, if their number is large,they can be placed upon the binding in two or more groups one after theother. After the pages are in place, the operating rod 31 is allowed to`rise to its original position, and all of the parts of the machine arethereby permitted to return to their original positions under theinfluence of the springs 28 and 39. This allows the rings 23 of thebinding, which are resilient, to return to their original closed formand also disengages the hooks 34 on the lower cross member from thebinding. The book which has been bound can then be removed from themachine and the binding operation repeated on another book.

`The machine can be used for opening and inserting bindings of diierentsizes by adjusting the vertical screws 2E in the upper cross member andby adjusting the stop screws 33 which limit the downward. movement ofthe `lower cross member 2l. Lock nuts 4| and 42 are provided on thesescrews for retaining them in their adjusted positions.

Attention is especially directed to the simplicity of the machine ascompared with other machines that have been constructed foraccomplishing the same purpose. It will be noted that there are a smallnumber of moving parts and that all of the parts are of such a shape asto be economically constructed. For example, the binding support I9which is mounted upon the upper cross member and includes the upperhooks 22 is formed of sheet metal and can be manufactured veryeconomically. The same is true of the lower hook plate 3| and theretainer 52. t may also be noticed that the table upon which the machineis mountedv serves only as a support and that all that is needed toenable the machine to be mounted upon any table or bench that may beavailable is to provide suitable apertures 43, 44 and 45 for the variousportions of the machine that project below the base I2'. Thus, inmanufacturing and distributing the machine, all that is necessary is tomanufacture and ship the relatively small machine itself, permitting thepurchaser to secure a suitable table from a local source.

From the above, it will be seen that I have provided an extremely simpleand economical machine for applying' plastic bindings and that themachine is inexpensive enough to allow it to be purchased or rented bymany small print shops that would otherwise be forced to have theirbinding done by other concerns.

While I have shown only one embodiment of my invention, it will ofcourse be understood that many modifications and changes maybe madewithout departing from the spirit of my invention. It willalso beunderstood that bindings of the general type with which this machine isintended to be used may be made of other materials than plastics, suchas, for example, re-

silient metal, and it is to be understood that the term plastic bindingis to include any such bindings. `It will further be understood thatthis machine may readily be modified, as, for example, by merelychanging the shape of the hooks 22- for engaging the backbone of thebinoling, toV enable it to be used with other forms of bindings than theone for which the particular machine shown as an example has beenspecifically designed. I therefore do not intend to limit the patentgranted hereon to the specific construction which I have shown, but itis to be clearly understood that it embraces all constructions fallingwithin the terms of any one or more of the following claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A machine for spreading open the rings of plastic bindings,comprising a stationary frame means mounted on said frame for supportingthe rings of a plastic binding near the backbone thereof, a series ofhooks carried on said frame in proximity to said supporting means andlocated in position to lie between the rings of a binding when saidbinding is supported by said means, means for moving said supportingmeans and said binding in the direction of the length of said binding toplace said rings in encircling relation to said hooks, and means forsubsequently moving said hooks away from said supporting means.

2. A machine for spreading open the rings of plastic bindings,comprising a stationary frame means mounted on said frame for supportinga plastic binding by the backbone thereof, a series of hooks carried onsaid frame in proximity to said supporting means and located in positionto lie between the rings of a binding when said binding is supported bysaid means, meansv for moving said supporting means and said binding inthe direction of the length of said binding to place said rings inencircling relation to said hooks, and means for subsequently movingsaid hooks away from said supporting means.

3. A machine forspreading open the rings of plastic bindings, comprisinga stationary frame,

a row of hooks carried on said frame and adapted to t between the ringsof a plastic binding and engage the backbone thereof, a second row ofhooks carriedy on said frame in proximity to said iirst row of hooks andlocated in position to -lie between the rings of a binding supported bysaid rst row of hooks, the ends of said hooks of said second row beingaligned in a direction extending lengthwise of said second row of hooksand parallel to said backbone, means for moving said first row of hooksand said binding in a direction opposite to said rst mentioned directionto place said rings in encircling relation to said hooks in said secondrow, and means for subsequently moving said two rows of hooks laterallyapart,

4 A machine for spreading open the rings of plastic bindings, comprisinga stationary frame, means mounted on said frame for supporting the ringsof a plastic binding near the backbone thereof, a row of hooks carriedon said frame in proximity to said supporting means and locatedinposition to lie between said rings, means for rst moving saidsupporting means and said hooks together and for thereafter moving saidhooks transversely away from said supporting means, and means for movingsaid supporting means in a direction parallel to said row of hookssimultaneously with the transverse movement thereof.

5. A machine for spreading open the rings of plasticbindings, comprisinga stationary frame, means mounted on said frame for supporting the ringsof vla plastic binding near the backbone thereof, a row of `hookscarried on said frame in proximity to said supporting means and locatedin position to lie between said rings, means for rst moving saidsupporting means and vsaid hooks together in a direction transversetoysaid binding and to said row of hooks, and for thereafter moving saidhooks away from said supporting means. and means for moving saidsupporting means in a direction parallel tosaid row of hookssimultaneously with the transverse movement thereof. i A

6. A machine for spreading open,v the ringsV of plastic bindings,comprising-a stationary frame, means mounted on said frame forsupporting the rings of a plasticabinding near the backbone thereof, arow of .hooks carried on` said frame in proximity to said supportingmeans and located in position to lie between said rings, means for firstmoving 'said supporting means and said hooks together in a directiontransverse to said binding and for thereafter moving said hooks awayfrom said supporting means, and cam means for moving said supportingmeans longitudinally simultaneously with the transverse movement thereofsaid cam means comprising oblique pin and slot connections. i

7. A machine for spreading open the rings of plastic bindings,comprising a stationary frame, a rst row of hooks movably'mounted onsaid frame and adapted to engage the longitudinally extending backboneof a plastic binding, a second row of hooks movably mounted on saidframe and located in position to liebetween-the rings of said bindingsand having the ends thereof directed parallel to said backbone, meansfor first moving said two rows of hooks together in a directiontransverse to said backbone and for thereafter moving one of said rowsofhooks away from the other, and means for moving said other row of hookslongitudinalh7 simultaneously with the transverse movement thereof.

8. A machine for spreading open the rings of plastic bindings comprisinga stationary frame, a first row of hooks movably mounted on-said frameand adapted to engage the longitudinally extending backbone of a plasticbinding, a second row of hooks movably mounted on said frame and locatedin position to lie between the rings of said bindings and having theirends extending in a direction parallel to said backbone, means for firstmoving said two rows of hooks together in a. direction transverse tosaid backbone and for thereafter moving said second row of hooks away Yfrom said iirst row of hooks, and cam means for moving said rst row ofhooks longitudinally simultaneously with the transverse movementthereof, said cam means comprising oblique pin and slot connections.

9Y A machine for opening plastic bindings, comprising av stationaryframe, means mounted on said frame for supporting thev rings of Iaplastic binding .near the backbone thereof, a row of hooks carried onsaid frame in proximity to said supporting means and located in positionto. lie between the ringsof a vbinding supported by said means, a memberextending alongl said row of hooks :and having transverse projections',and means for rst moving said row of hooks and said memberlongitudinally relative to said supporting means to place said rings inencircling relation to said hooks and for thereafter moving said membertransversely relative to said row-of hooks and bringing said projectionsinto close proximity to the ends of said hooks.

l0. A machine for opening a plastic binding having a longitudinallyextending backbone and a row of split rings formed of resilient materialand integral with said backbone, comprising a stationary frame, a firstrow of hooks movably mounted on said frame and having a spacing similarto the spacing of said rings and adapted to engage said backbone betweensaid rings, a second row of hooks movably mounted on said frame andhaving a spacing similar to the spacing of said rings and located inposition to lie between said rings, a member extending along said secondrow of hooks and having transverse projections with a spacing similar tothe spacing of said hooks, and means for first moving said second row ofhooks and said member longitudinally relative to said first row of hooksto placesaid rings in encircling relations to the hooks in said secondrow and for thereafter moving said member transversely relative to saidsecond row of hooks and bringing said projections into close proximityto the ends of said hooks in said second row.

l1.. A machine for spreading open the rings of a plastic binding,comprising a frame, a pair of parallel cross members movably mounted onsaid frame for movement in a common plane, the direction of movement ofeach cross member being at an angle to the direction of movement of theother but in the same plane, means for moving said cross memberssimultaneously and together with respect to said frame, and forthereafter moving said cross members apart with respect to each other,andV means on said cross members for engaging said plastic binding atspaced points.

12. A machine for spreading open the rings of a plastic binding having alongitudinally extending backbone and fingers extending transverselythereto and curved to form rings, comprising a frame, a pair of parallelcross members movably mounted on said frame for movement in a commonplane, the direction of movement of said cross members being at an angleto each other but in the same plane, a row of hooks on one of said crossmembers spaced and shaped to t between said rings and around saidbackbone, a second row of hooks on the other of said cross membersspaced to fit between said rings and having the ends thereof extendingin the direction of extension of said second row of hooks and parallelto said backbone, and means for moving said cross members simultaneouslyand together with respect to said frame, and for thereafter moving saidcross members apart with respect to each other.

13. A machine for spreading open the rings of a plastic binding having alongitudinally extending backbone and fingers extending transverselythereto and curved to form said rings, comprising a frame, an elongatedupper member movably mounted on said frame and lying in a xed uprightplane, means Vinterconnecting said upper member and said frame forrestricting said upper member to movement in said plane in an inclineddirection between Xed limits, a row of hooks on said upper member spacedand shaped to t between said rings' and around said backbone, anelongatedV lower member movably mounted on said frame, means forrestricting said lower member to movement in said plane in a verticaldirection, means for supporting said upper member on said lower memberfor movement therewith between said limits, a row ofV hooks on saidlower member spaced to iit between said rings and having the endsthereof extending in a direction parallel to said backbone, and meansfor raising and lowering said lower member a distance greater than thevertical range of movement of said upper member.

14. A machine for spreading open the rings of a plastic binding having alongitudinally extending backbone and lingers extending transverselythereto and curved to form said rings, compris- Ying a frame, anelongated upper member movably mounted on said frame and lying in afixed upright plane, means interconnecting said upper member and saidframe for restricting said upper member to movement in said plane in axed direction between fixed limits, a row of hooks on said upper memberspaced and shaped to lit between said rings and around said backbone, anelongated lower member movably mounted on said frame, means forrestricting said lower member to movement in said plane in a directionat an angle to said first direction, means for supporting said uppermember on said lower member for movement therewith between said limits,a row of hooks on said lower member spaced to fit between said ringswhen said lower member is supporting said upper member in the uppermostposition thereof, said hooks having the ends thereof extending in adirection parallel to the longitudinal axis of said lower member, aretainer mounted on said lower member for Vertical movement with respectthereto, said retainer having projections movable therewith into closeproximity to the ends of said hooks on said lower member, means forraising and lowering said lower member a distance greater than thevertical range of movement of said upper member between said limits, andstop means adapted to engage said retainer upon downward movement ofsaid lower member.

Verrantes EDWARD EMMER.

